Party in San Francisco Celebrates Harry Potter Book

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Many avid Harry Potter fans gathered Saturday at the Bookshop West Portal in San Francisco for the release of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”— a book based on the new London play -- as well as a chance to see some galloping gargoyles.

The book release party started at 2 p.m.at the book store—which has been decked out to look like Diagon Alley—and will continue until midnight, when the books will be delivered to the store. For many fans, the shindig will serve as a nostalgic reminder of the 12 a.m. book release parties that were wildly popular when author J.K. Rowling was publishing the original seven books.

The party includes things to do for all for all ages, including wizarding crafts, a children’s costume contest and a live owl visiting from San Francisco’s Randall Museum that bears a striking resemblance to Hedwig.

Other activities include adult trivia and a live staged reading by San Francisco’s Word for Word Performing Arts Company.

More than 75 people have been invited to the Facebook event, where the store has promised prizes “for the best and the brightest of wizards and witches.”

Bookshop West is currently taking pre-orders of the book at a 20% discount. It sells for $14.99 at most booksellers.